Votes For Irish Citizens Abroad
VICA, or Votes for Irish Citizens Abroad, is a campaign advocating for the extension of voting rights to Irish citizens living overseas. Currently, Irish citizens who reside outside of Ireland are not eligible to vote in national elections, referendums, or presidential elections unless they are living in the country.
VICA seeks to change this by calling for the implementation of legislation that would grant Irish citizens living abroad the right to vote in Irish elections, regardless of their residency status. The campaign argues that Irish citizens living overseas should have a say in the democratic processes that affect their homeland and that extending voting rights to expatriates would strengthen the connection between Ireland and its global diaspora. VICA works to raise awareness about the issue of voting rights for Irish citizens abroad, engage with policymakers and political representatives, and advocate for legislative change to ensure that all Irish citizens, regardless of where they reside, have the opportunity to participate in Ireland's democratic process.
VICA, the campaign for Votes for Irish Citizens Abroad, has not been implemented in Ireland. While there have been ongoing discussions and debates about extending voting rights to Irish citizens living overseas, no legislation has been passed to grant expatriates the right to vote in national elections, referendums, or presidential elections. The issue remains a topic of debate among policymakers, political representatives, and advocacy groups, with supporters of VICA continuing to push for legislative change to ensure that Irish citizens living abroad have the opportunity to participate in Ireland's democratic process. However, the implementation of VICA or similar measures would require legislative action by the Irish government, and as of now, no such action has been taken.
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Is anyone living abroad allowed to vote?
A fortunate few among Irish citizens living abroad hold the privilege of casting their votes in certain circumstances. These include members of the armed forces and diplomatic services, who retain the right to participate in Dáil elections, ensuring their voices are heard despite their overseas postings. Similarly, graduates of NUI and Trinity College Dublin enjoy the unique opportunity to vote in Seanad elections, irrespective of their global whereabouts, underscoring the importance of education in civic engagement. Additionally, those temporarily residing outside Ireland for less than 18 months, with the intention of returning within that timeframe, can maintain their voter registration at their Irish address and exercise their democratic duty upon their return.